10.10.2006 EX-MINISTER OF ECONOMY ANTICIPATES HIGHER GAS RATE IN 2007

Chisinau, October 10 (Infotag). The soon-to-be fuel supply negotiations with the Russian Gasprom Concern will kick off from the starting price of US$160 per a thousand cubic meters and not a dollar less, believes former Moldovan Minister of Economy and Trade Valeriu Lazar.

Speaking on the ProTV-Chisinau channel Monday night, he voiced optimism about concluding a long-term agreement with Gasprom, underlining, however, that it will only be possible in case Chisinau manages to maintain a close cooperation with the Russian fuel giant. Such cooperation would enable Moldova to export, jointly with Gasprom, natural gas to the Balkans as well as electricity – a product so badly needed by this region of Europe.

Lazar said he would not be surprised if Gasprom eventually comes to control gas supply for the much-spoken Nabuco project. To substantiate his view, he referred to the example of gas from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Algiers, whose exports are now run with the Russian concern’s participation.

The former minister is convinced that partnership with Gasprom will let Moldova lower the gas rate at home thank to the advantages which the joint Moldova/Gasprom export business might bring to this republic. In this connection, he offered a supposition that the Moldavskaya Power Plant, currently owned by Inter RAO EES of Russia, will soon be returned under Moldova’s jurisdiction, so this republic will be able to export electricity to the Balkans.

Touching on the economic damage to Moldova inflicted by the Russian ban on wine imports from this republic, Valeriu Lazar stated, “A day will come when Moldova will thank Moscow for this ban…”, for local winemakers are now looking for sale markets other than the Russian one. He believes new markets should be looked for not only by wine companies but also by the State, despite the fact that the Moldovan wine sector has already been 90% privately-run.

Speaking about the reasons of his dismissal, Lazar said he casts no doubt on President Voronin’s words that the Ministry of Economy and Trade failed to cope with the mission entrusted to it. At the same time, Valeriu Lazar presumes his resignation “was inspired by somebody outside the Presidential Office”.

In his belief, the Government Apparatus and the Ministry of Economy and Trade need a structural reform, and Minister of Economy should have the rank of a Deputy Premier – like this has been done with respect to Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration.

As for First Deputy Prime Minister Zinaida Grechanaya, Lazar thinks she simply has no team strong enough for solving macro-economic stability problems.

Valeriu Lazar said his occupation now is rendering economic consultations in order to attract serious foreign investors to this republic. He stands ready to collaborate with the Tarlev Government if only he is invited to.